Malaysia and the Philippines have agreed to set up a forward base in southern Philippines as part of an escalated joint effort to combat cross-border crime, the New Straits Times Online reported on Thursday.
Malaysian police inspector-general Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police had set up a special task force unit based in Sabah.
“This is the right time to have a new collaboration, Khalid told the media after the close of the 36th Aseanapol Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
He added that the matter would be further discussed between Sabah police chief and the commander of southern Philippine police force.
The southern region of the Philippines has long been the hotbed of criminal activities mainly kidnappings by the Abu Sayaaf gang.